South Carolina Plumber License Requirements

Official classification: Mechanical Contractor - Plumbing (PB) [commercial]; Residential Specialty Contractor - Plumbing [residential] · Issued by the SC Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR).

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In South Carolina, plumbers must hold the Mechanical Contractor - Plumbing (PB) [commercial]; Residential Specialty Contractor - Plumbing [residential], issued by the SC Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), and a $10,000 surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed plumber in South Carolina

Follow these steps to earn your Mechanical Contractor - Plumbing (PB) [commercial]; Residential Specialty Contractor - Plumbing [residential]. Every figure is verified against the SC Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Commercial (CLB): at least 2 years of full-time experience within the past 5 years for the qualifying party. Residential: at least 1 year working for a plumbing contractor within the past 5 years.
Pass the Commercial Contractor Plumbing exam (80 questions, 4 hours) and SC Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors (50 questions) exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Secure your surety bond. South Carolina requires $10,000 minimum surety bond for a residential licensed plumbing specialty contractor on any job over $5,000 (S.C. Code Regs. 106-2). The commercial license has no fixed bond; a surety bond may be posted in lieu of a financial statement to set the Group bid limit.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Not mandated by the board for issuance. Workers' compensation: Required under SC law if you have employees (generally 4 or more); not collected by the board at licensing.
Clear the background check. Notarized Verification of Lawful Presence required. Residential Builders Commission applicants submit a SLED criminal history check only if they have prior arrests or convictions; no fingerprint check is required.
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Commercial: a financial statement sets the bid Group — self-prepared and notarized for Groups 1-2, CPA-compiled for Groups 3-4 (an owner-prepared statement is also accepted at renewal), and for Group 5 a CPA-audited balance sheet at initial licensure or a CPA-reviewed statement at renewal — or a surety bond may substitute. Residential: no net-worth tier; a bond substitutes.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the SC Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) — $350 (CLB commercial); residential specialty application fee is lower application fee, plus a $350 (CLB commercial) license fee. Processing time: Variable; typically a few weeks after exams and a complete application.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 2 years. Commercial mechanical licenses (Contractor's Licensing Board) expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; the Residential Builders Commission's current renewal period is 2026-2028 (deadline June 30, 2026).

For the general path in every state, see the Plumber guide →

South Carolina plumber license lookup

To confirm a plumber is properly licensed in South Carolina — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official verify.llronline.com database →

License types

Mechanical Contractor - Plumbing (PB) — Commercial plumbing work on projects of $10,000 or more; bid limit set by financial Group (Mechanical Contractor limits per job: Group 1 $35,000 / Group 2 $100,000 / Group 3 $200,000 / Group 4 $400,000 / Group 5 unlimited — lower than the General Contractor groups).
Residential Specialty Contractor - Plumbing — Residential plumbing work, licensed under the Residential Builders Commission.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Commercial (CLB): at least 2 years of full-time experience within the past 5 years for the qualifying party. Residential: at least 1 year working for a plumbing contractor within the past 5 years.
Application fee	$350 (CLB commercial); residential specialty application fee is lower
License fee	$350 (CLB commercial)
Renewal fee	$135 biennial (CLB commercial); late penalties $100/$150/$200 at 30/60/90 days
Renewal period	Every 2 years. Commercial mechanical licenses (Contractor's Licensing Board) expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; the Residential Builders Commission's current renewal period is 2026-2028 (deadline June 30, 2026).
Continuing education	None required
Bond required	$10,000 minimum surety bond for a residential licensed plumbing specialty contractor on any job over $5,000 (S.C. Code Regs. 106-2). The commercial license has no fixed bond; a surety bond may be posted in lieu of a financial statement to set the Group bid limit.
Liability insurance	Not mandated by the board for issuance
Property damage	—
Workers' comp	Required under SC law if you have employees (generally 4 or more); not collected by the board at licensing
Background check	Notarized Verification of Lawful Presence required. Residential Builders Commission applicants submit a SLED criminal history check only if they have prior arrests or convictions; no fingerprint check is required.
Credit requirement	Commercial: a financial statement sets the bid Group — self-prepared and notarized for Groups 1-2, CPA-compiled for Groups 3-4 (an owner-prepared statement is also accepted at renewal), and for Group 5 a CPA-audited balance sheet at initial licensure or a CPA-reviewed statement at renewal — or a surety bond may substitute. Residential: no net-worth tier; a bond substitutes.
Reciprocity	Residential plumbing: technical-exam waiver agreements with North Carolina and Mississippi. Commercial licenses: confirm any exam waiver with the Contractor's Licensing Board. The SC Business Management and Law exam is still required. · compare all states
Processing time	Variable; typically a few weeks after exams and a complete application.

What a South Carolina plumber license costs

Application fee	$350 (CLB commercial); residential specialty application fee is lower.
License fee	$350 (CLB commercial).
Commercial Contractor Plumbing exam (80 questions, 4 hours)	Approximately $75.
SC Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors (50 questions)	Approximately $75.
Surety bond	$10,000 minimum surety bond for a residential licensed plumbing specialty contractor on any job over $5,000 (S.C. Code Regs. 106-2). The commercial license has no fixed bond; a surety bond may be posted in lieu of a financial statement to set the Group bid limit. A bond's premium is a percentage of the bond amount, set by the surety.
Renewal fee	$135 biennial (CLB commercial); late penalties $100/$150/$200 at 30/60/90 days.
Renewal period	Every 2 years. Commercial mechanical licenses (Contractor's Licensing Board) expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; the Residential Builders Commission's current renewal period is 2026-2028 (deadline June 30, 2026).

Exams

Commercial Contractor Plumbing exam (80 questions, 4 hours)	Provider: PSI · Passing: 70% or better (S.C. Code 40-11-230) · Fee: Approximately $75
SC Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors (50 questions)	Provider: PSI · Passing: 70% (commonly cited; confirm with the board) · Fee: Approximately $75

Renewing a South Carolina plumber license

The Mechanical Contractor - Plumbing (PB) [commercial]; Residential Specialty Contractor - Plumbing [residential] renews on a fixed cycle set by the SC Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Every 2 years. Commercial mechanical licenses (Contractor's Licensing Board) expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; the Residential Builders Commission's current renewal period is 2026-2028 (deadline June 30, 2026).
Renewal fee	$135 biennial (CLB commercial); late penalties $100/$150/$200 at 30/60/90 days
Continuing education	None required
Where to renew	SC Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR)

Local / municipal notes

SC licenses plumbing as a Mechanical Contractor subclassification (commercial) or a Residential Specialty (residential); there is no separate statewide journeyman/master plumber license. Local jurisdictions may require additional registration.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a South Carolina plumber license cost?

Application: $350 (CLB commercial); residential specialty application fee is lower. License: $350 (CLB commercial). Renewal: $135 biennial (CLB commercial); late penalties $100/$150/$200 at 30/60/90 days.

How do I look up a plumber license in South Carolina?

Search the official license database at verify.llronline.com. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do plumbers in South Carolina need a surety bond?

$10,000 minimum surety bond for a residential licensed plumbing specialty contractor on any job over $5,000 (S.C. Code Regs. 106-2). The commercial license has no fixed bond; a surety bond may be posted in lieu of a financial statement to set the Group bid limit.

What experience is required for a South Carolina plumber license?

Commercial (CLB): at least 2 years of full-time experience within the past 5 years for the qualifying party. Residential: at least 1 year working for a plumbing contractor within the past 5 years.

Is insurance required for plumbers in South Carolina?

Liability: Not mandated by the board for issuance. Workers' compensation: Required under SC law if you have employees (generally 4 or more); not collected by the board at licensing.

How long does it take to get a South Carolina plumber license?

Processing time: Variable; typically a few weeks after exams and a complete application.

Is a background check required for plumbers in South Carolina?

Background check: Notarized Verification of Lawful Presence required. Residential Builders Commission applicants submit a SLED criminal history check only if they have prior arrests or convictions; no fingerprint check is required.

Is there a credit or financial requirement for a South Carolina plumber license?

Credit requirement: Commercial: a financial statement sets the bid Group — self-prepared and notarized for Groups 1-2, CPA-compiled for Groups 3-4 (an owner-prepared statement is also accepted at renewal), and for Group 5 a CPA-audited balance sheet at initial licensure or a CPA-reviewed statement at renewal — or a surety bond may substitute. Residential: no net-worth tier; a bond substitutes.

How often must a South Carolina plumber license be renewed?

Every 2 years. Commercial mechanical licenses (Contractor's Licensing Board) expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; the Residential Builders Commission's current renewal period is 2026-2028 (deadline June 30, 2026). Continuing education: None required.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-19 — always confirm current requirements directly with the SC Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) before applying. This is not legal advice.